Fiji taro growers focus on export quality [1]
Monday, September 24, 2018 - 21:36
A Fiji Dalo Quality manual to help taro growers, buyers and exporters improve the quality of taro being produced and traded for the local and export markets was launched on September 19 at a workshop held in Navatukia Village, Serea, Sawani.
The manual was developed by the Ministry in collaboration with industry stakeholders, including growers and traders, under the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program, to help improve the quality and exports of taro from Fiji.
PHAMA is an Australian Government initiative co-funded by the New Zealand Government,
Another workshop was held in the interior of Naitasiri in recognition of the many hardworking farmers and communities producing taro in the area for the local and exports markets. Nearly 130 taro growers from across the main taro-producing areas including Kadavu and Gau, the interior of Ra, Taveuni and the interior of Tailevu also participated.
With approximately 37,000 taro farms around the country, taro is an important staple food as well as important export product in Fiji’s economy. It is the largest agricultural export product with an average annual export volume of approximately 10,000 tons valued at around $F21million over the past five years.
Fiji’s major export destinations are New Zealand (valued at approximately 65% of this export) while the balance in export is shared among Australia, the United States, Canada and Pacific island countries including Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Given the importance of taro to rural and urban communities alike, it is a concern that exports of premium quality taro have been declining. While this is partly attributable to the two cyclones and prolonged drought that have affected Fiji, solutions need to be identified to increase volumes and quality of export products.
The manual is among the recommended solutions that have the potential to improve exports of premium taro.
With increasing competition in taro export markets from other countries in the Pacific and beyond, New Zealand and Australia have very stringent import conditions, which mean they will only accept taro that is of high quality and has been processed appropriately. For these reasons it is increasingly important that there is a focus on delivering high quality taro by all those involved in taro production and export.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Permanent Secretary, David Kolitagane in Sawani, launched the manual.